Tatnell Doubles Up On UMSS Northern Tour
(Tops Brother-in-law at Hibbing and Proctor)
Proctor, MN
By: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director (7-8-12)
Brooke Tatnell made the most of his time up north by defeating his brother-in-law, Jerry Richert Jr, at both Hibbing Raceway and Proctor Speedway on July 7-8. With fantastic weather both nights for the 2nd Annual Rumble on the Range and the 1st Annual Twin Ports Sprint Special, the Upper Midwest Sprintcar Series (UMSS) events drew large crowds at both tracks. It was the first race ever for the UMSS at the Proctor Speedway, and the first time in ten years sprint cars had raced at the Twin Ports track. For Tatnell, it was his thirteenth and fourteenth career UMSS feature wins. Tatnell has five wins on the season in seven attempts with the UMSS.
At Hibbing, Tatnell struggled in his heat race and challenge race, but was the benefactor of high-point driver Andy Jones drawing the six pill for the feature race invert. This put Tatnell and Richert on the front row. Tatnell would lead the entire 20 lap distance, but Richert made things interesting as the race was only slowed once under caution in the early going. Jason Tostenson, Scott Broty, and Tony Kaus completed the top five. For Kaus, it was his career-best UMSS finish. Rounding out the top ten finishers were Ryan Wilson making his first start with the UMSS in the Layton Motorsports sprinter, Andy Jones, Sye Anderson, Chris Graf and Jared Goerges. Goerges arrived late and missed his heat race, so he found himself tagging the tail of the Challenge and feature races.
At Proctor, Tatnell followed Chris Graf for 11 laps before making the winning passing exiting turn two on lap 12. Richert got by Graf four laps later but was unable to get close to Tatnell. Jason Tostenson and Sye Anderson rounded out the top five. Completing the top finishers were Tony Kaus, Anna Kouba, Tom Nicholl, 2009 UMSS Champion Leigh Thomas in his first race of the season, and 2011 TSCS Champion Kevin Bradwell. Jared Goerges flipped in turn three on the opening lap, as the track was very tacky. Andy Jones also got upside down in turn one at the beginning of lap 7 after making contact with Katrina Sautbine. The was slowed twice under red flags for the two flips and once for a spin. Point leader Scott Broty was unable to start the feature due to mechanical issues on his #34 sprinter.
Tatnell earned $1,000 for each of his wins. The UMSS has completed nine shows so far, and Tatnell is actually leading the GRP High Five Championship Standings. The UMSS Point Championship is determined by throwing out a driver's two worst shows. Tatnell has missed two shows, so his five wins in seven appearances along with a second and third in the other two races is good enough to currently place him atop the championship standings ahead of Jerry Richert, Jr. and Scott Broty.
The UMSS sprints will take a mid summer break the next two weekends to allow teams a bit of a rest or to race elsewhere before returning to action on Saturday July 28 at the Cedar Lake Speedway. Hopefully the fourth try at CLS this season will see nice weather, as the first three attempts earlier in the spring to get a show in at the western Wisconsin track fell victim to rain. Check out the UMSS website at www.umsprints.com or become a friend of the UMSS on their Facebook page to keep tabs on the battle for the championship title, as the series works its way into the second half of the 2012 season.
UMSS Race Results - Hibbing Raceway July 7, 2012 (Race #8) 2nd Annual Rumble on the Range:
Alpha Apparel & Promotions Ultimate Sprint Heat #1 (7 laps): Jason Tostenson 36, Ryan Wilson 19, Andy Jones 73, Sye Anderson 37, Chris Graf 20G, Brooke Tatnell 86AU, James Broty 33.
Meeks Video Ultimate Sprint Heat #2 (6 laps): Jerry Richert, Jr. 63, Anna Kouba 5, Tony Kaus 3TK, Scott Broty 34, Tom Nicholl 5c, Kevin Bradwell 95, Jared Goerges 9 DNS.
Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race #1 (8 laps): Jones, Scott Broty, Graf, Tostenson, James Broty, Bradwell, Kouba.
Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race #2 (8 laps): Kaus, Anderson, Tatnell, Richert, Goerges, Nicholl, Wilson.
GRP Motorsports A Main (20 laps): Tatnell, Richert, Tostenson, Scott Broty, Kaus, Wilson, Jones, Anderson, Graf, Goerges, Kouba, James Broty, Nicholl, Bradwell DNF.
Lap Leaders: Tatnell 1-20
Cautions: (1)
UMSS Race Results - Proctor Speedway July 8, 2012 (Race #9) 1st Annual Twin Ports Sprint Special:
Alpha Apparel & Promotions Ultimate Sprint Heat #1 (6 laps): Chris Graf 20G, Ryan Wilson 19, Leigh Thomas 29, James Broty 33, Kevin Bradwell 95, Katrina Sautbine 13k.
Meeks Video Ultimate Sprint Heat #2 (6 laps): Andy Jones 73, Jason Tostenson 36, Tony Kaus 3TK, Tom Nicholl 5c, Anna Kouba 5.
Driverwebsites.com Ultimate Sprint Heat #3 (6 laps): Brooke Tatnell 86AU, Scott Broty 34, Jerry Richert, Jr. 63, Jared Goerges 9, Sye Anderson 37.
Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race #1 (8 laps): Jones, Goerges, Kaus, Wilson, Anderson, Scott Broty, James Broty, Bradwell.
Mastell Brothers Trailer Service Challenge Race #2 (8 laps): Richert, Tatnell, Thomas, Tostenson, Graf, Kouba, Nicholl, Sautbine.
GRP Motorsports A Main (20 laps): Tatnell, Richert, Graf, Tostenson, Anderson, Kaus, Kouba, Nicholl, Thomas, Bradwell, Sautbine, James Broty DNF, Jones DNF, Wilson DNF, Goerges DNF, Scott Broty DNS.
Lap Leaders: Graf 1-11, Tatnell 12-20
Cautions: (3)
Victory Lane Photo at Proctor courtesy of Vince Peterson at Track Rat Photos.
